MET 4.8 · Compendium code 03090

Calories burned salsa

Salsa is classified in the Compendium of Physical Activities as “Salsa Dancing, with partner”, with a MET value of 4.8 — about 354 calories per hour for a 155-lb person.

Body weight	15 min	30 min	45 min	60 min	90 min	120 min
100 lb (45 kg)	57	114	171	229	343	457
110 lb (50 kg)	63	126	189	251	377	503
120 lb (54 kg)	69	137	206	274	412	549
130 lb (59 kg)	74	149	223	297	446	594
140 lb (64 kg)	80	160	240	320	480	640
150 lb (68 kg)	86	171	257	343	514	686
155 lb (70 kg)	89	177	266	354	532	709
160 lb (73 kg)	91	183	274	366	549	732
170 lb (77 kg)	97	194	291	389	583	777
180 lb (82 kg)	103	206	309	412	617	823
190 lb (86 kg)	109	217	326	434	652	869
200 lb (91 kg)	114	229	343	457	686	914
210 lb (95 kg)	120	240	360	480	720	960
220 lb (100 kg)	126	251	377	503	754	1006
240 lb (109 kg)	137	274	412	549	823	1097
260 lb (118 kg)	149	297	446	594	892	1189
280 lb (127 kg)	160	320	480	640	960	1280
300 lb (136 kg)	171	343	514	686	1029	1372

FAQ

How many calories does salsa burn per hour?

About 354 calories per hour for a 155-lb (70 kg) person, 286 for 125 lb and 423 for 185 lb, using a MET value of 4.8 (Salsa dancing with a partner).

Is salsa a good workout?

At 4.8 METs, salsa counts as moderate-intensity activity. Federal guidelines recommend 150 minutes of moderate (or 75 minutes of vigorous) activity a week.

Compare with other dance activities

Activity	MET	kcal/hr (155 lb)
Ballroom DanceSport competition (Standard and Latin)	13.0	960
Ballroom dancing, competitive, general	11.3	834
Musical theater, singing and dancing	10.3	760
Nightclub or folk dancing, vigorous (disco, line dancing, Irish step, polka, contra)	9.8	723
Polynesian dance, Samoan slap, Tahitian	8.8	650
Flamenco dance	8.5	627
Aerobic dance, general (e.g. Zumba-style classes)	7.3	539
Aerobic dance, high impact	7.3	539
Chinese square dance, aerobic dance	7.3	539
Polynesian dance — fast hula, Samoan sasa, tinikling	7.0	517
Ballet, modern or jazz — performance, vigorous effort	6.8	502
Ballet exercises (pliés, tendus, jetés, rond de jambe, grand battement)	6.3	465
Salsa dancing to a video	6.3	465
Afro-Cuban salsa (cha-cha-cha, mambo, Afro rumba, son steps)	6.0	443
Ballroom dance, recreational (waltz, foxtrot, cha-cha, swing)	6.0	443
Polynesian dance — slow hula, haka, Tongan	5.8	428
Ballroom dancing, fast	5.5	406
Anishinaabe jingle dancing and other traditional American Indian dancing	5.5	406
Square dancing, American Western, country	5.5	406
Chinese square dance, Ballet & Tibetan dance	5.5	406
Ballet, modern or jazz — general, rehearsal or class	5.0	369
Aerobic dance, low impact	5.0	369
Folk dancing, moderate effort	5.0	369
Tap dancing	4.8	354
Salsa dancing with a partner	4.8	354
Ethnic or cultural dancing (e.g. salsa, merengue, flamenco, belly, hula, swing)	4.5	332
Jazz dancing, general	4.5	332
Contemporary dancing, nightclub	4.3	317
Contemporary dancing, general	3.8	281
Caribbean dance (Abakua, Beguine, Bellair, Jonkonnu and others)	3.5	258
Ballroom, slow (waltz, foxtrot, slow dancing, samba, tango, rumba, mambo, cha-cha)	3.0	221

kcal = MET × kg × hours (1 MET ≈ 1 kcal/kg/hour; we use 1.05 to match 3.5 ml O₂/kg/min). Source: Compendium of Physical Activities. Estimates only.